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Corruption, Growth and Ethnic Fractionalization: a Theoretical Model

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This paper analyzes the existing relationship between ethnic fractionalization, corruption and the growth rate of a country. We provide a simple theoretical model. We show that a nonlinear relationship between fractionalization and corruption exists: corruption is high in homogeneous or very fragmented countries, but low where fractionalization is intermediate. In fact, when ethnic diversity is intermediate, constituencies act as a check and balance device to limit ethnically-based corruption. Consequently, the relationship between fractionalization and growth rate is also non-linear: growth is high in the middle range of ethnic diversity, low in homogeneous or very fragmented countries.

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  • Roy Cerqueti & Raffaella Coppier & Gustavo Piga, 2011. "Corruption, Growth and Ethnic Fractionalization: a Theoretical Model," CEIS Research Paper 216, Tor Vergata University, CEIS, revised 08 Nov 2011.
    • Handle: RePEc:rtv:ceisrp:216
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    7. Roy Cerqueti & Raffaella Coppier, 2015. "Corruptibility and tax evasion," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 355-373, April.
    8. Gören, Erkan, 2014. "How Ethnic Diversity Affects Economic Growth," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 275-297.
    9. Fang Yao & Kai Zhao & Xiaoyu Xu & Wenfei Liu, 2022. "Can Corruption Facilitate Industrial Structure Upgrade in China? The Moderating Role of Government-Business Relationships," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, September.
    10. Amine Hammadi & Marshall Mills & Nelson Sobrinho & Mr. Vimal V Thakoor & Ricardo Velloso, 2019. "A Governance Dividend for Sub-Saharan Africa?," IMF Working Papers 2019/001, International Monetary Fund.
    11. Elissaios Papyrakis & Pak Hung Mo, 2014. "Fractionalization, Polarization, And Economic Growth: Identifying The Transmission Channels," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 52(3), pages 1204-1218, July.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    corruption; ethnic fractionalization; monitoring cost; economic growth.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth

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